Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver

Medicaid Explained

Medicaid is a means tested program which means it requires participants to have an income level at or below a certain level - federal poverty level (FPL). SSI is the same but has a higher income threshold because it also requires the applicant have a disability. It pays a small monthly cash benefit and it qualifies the participant to get Medicaid. The Medicaid waivers waive Medicaid rules (most notably family income/resources) so their child can get needed medical services and the family doesn't break up and go broke in the process. The Children's HCBS waiver supplies the child with the same medical services as basic (state plan) Medicaid based on the significance of the child's needs. The CES waiver supplies the same services as HCBS but also comes with additional money (a statewide average of $14,900) to pay for medically necessary services that Medicaid doesn't cover.